Seriuos Component Failure

[PeterF]

Not lying, but even if it was used for a much longer time it will not crack like that.  I started to use the 2nd same time, no problem

No i am not saying that you are lying, just saying that you can't blame the manufacturer after the chain has been used for 1-2 years.

[SURFER]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2005/11/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn-not-so-simple-green-2_9216

 

There are some links describing this problem with chains soaking for extended periods.

 

Yes, it seems that was the problem

 

Thanks

[BigDL]

After reading reading all the comments I believe I know what happened

 

As I mentioned before, I use two chains and the chains is not old or worn. Normally after washing (degreasing) the chain, I will leave it in the sun to dry. This specific chain was left outside for a week (forgot about it since I replaced it with the 2nd chain, first time this happened). In this week it got some rust on the surface. I used a mix of degreasing solvent and some Q rust-off solvent to remove the surface rust. I soaked it for about 5 minutes. Never used the Q rust-off solvent on a chain before.

,

After lubing it I cycle for about 1 km when this happened.

 

it has to be the Q rust-off solution

Seriously, and this didn't occur to you as a possibility initially??

[SURFER]

No i am not saying that you are lying, just saying that you can't blame the manufacturer after the chain has been used for 1-2 years.

 

Not blaming, just sharing my experience.  Had good experience with SRAM and the American Classic wheel set.

[SURFER]

Seriously, and this didn't occur to you as a possibility initially??

 No

[rvdm1]

It looks like there is rust around the pins on that chain. This would mean lack of lubrication where the chain needs it most. Over time this will cause repeated heating and cooling of the chain which can harden the links and make them brittle.

This is an interesting thought. As far as I know you will have to reach some serious temperatures and then rapidly cool it down to harden it. Is this possible in a bicycle chain? I don't know, maybe in a very localised area which is just enough for a crack to initiate. Also, if it is heated and then gradually cooled down it will anneal and actually reduce the brittleness.

 

I am no metallurgist so don't take everything I say on the matter as fact.

[i24]

Wow, I have never seen a chain crack like that before.

 

It looks like there is rust around the pins on that chain. This would mean lack of lubrication where the chain needs it most. Over time this will cause repeated heating and cooling of the chain which can harden the links and make them brittle. My guess is that this is what happened here.

 

If I were to hazard a guess it seems likely that you regularly degrease the chain in a solvent of some description. There is at least on other thread that has discussed that at length. Take a look there for some tips on chain care.

 

But I think this is on the right track. There is clearly rust visible around the pins. Rust takes up more volume than the original steel before it got corroded. If the pins are rusted inside the links, there would be no space for the rust to grow into. This could exert a pressure which could cause the link plates to crack.

 

My guess this happened while the chain was soaking, or shortly afterwards while drying. The degreaser might have added to the corrosive properties of the water.

 

OP, please push the pins out of some of those cracked links with a chain tool and post photos of the link components.

 

[SURFER]

Wow, I have never seen a chain crack like that before.

 

 

But I think this is on the right track. There is clearly rust visible around the pins. Rust takes up more volume than the original steel before it got corroded. If the pins are rusted inside the links, there would be no space for the rust to grow into. This could exert a pressure which could cause the link plates to crack.

 

My guess this happened while the chain was soaking, or shortly afterwards while drying. The degreaser might have added to the corrosive properties of the water.

 

OP, please push the pins out of some of those cracked links with a chain tool and post photos of the link components.

 will do

[Mongoose!]

That rim looks like it has been ridden without a tyre for a few km's!!!

 on tar

[Martin PJ]

Not blaming, just sharing my experience.  Had good experience with SRAM and the American Classic wheel set.

 

Thanks for posting. I believe corrosion is the issue and not the degreaser itself.

 

Interestingly I have seen a chain rust quite a bit within a couple days, after never showing rust. Did a muddy race in the rain last year, where the local sand had a lot of fine particles and clay like soil. I washed the bike and chain with hose pipe and paraffin after the race, normally use high pressure hose (but did not on this day). A couple of days later the chain and cassette had a lot of surface rust (I had left it dry without putting chain lube on again). Obviously the fine sand had some salt in it and this was not removed by the hose pipe and paraffin wash. I realised after a muddy ride you need to wash the drive chain quite a bit more than you realise to get everything off. Then lube as soon as it dries. The lube does seem to give some rust protection.

[Capricorn]

i think its stress corrosion cracking or intergranular corrosion due to a combination of chemical exposure and non-standard material composition.

 

if it were due to corrosion in the links, both chains would've suffered the same situation as its the same owner with the same usage and maintenance behaviours relative to the chains. I've seen corrosion of a flange causing shear of 14mm bolts, but it took a substantial amount of corrosion. The directionality of the cracks in the bolts implies action of a force in one direction. the SSC or IGC were simply initiating events that lead to the extended cracking during use, or use leading to build up of stresses that propagated the cracks under continued chemical exposure.

 

or surfer dude is a real life popeye and needs to lay off the spinach..

[BDF]

This is an interesting thought. As far as I know you will have to reach some serious temperatures and then rapidly cool it down to harden it. Is this possible in a bicycle chain? I don't know, maybe in a very localised area which is just enough for a crack to initiate. Also, if it is heated and then gradually cooled down it will anneal and actually reduce the brittleness.

 

I am no metallurgist so don't take everything I say on the matter as fact.

This is a good point, yet the links have cracked. As per some of the other posts, perhaps it is a chemical matter and not a heating matter?

[Martin PJ]

This is a good point, yet the links have cracked. As per some of the other posts, perhaps it is a chemical matter and not a heating matter?

I agree, an oxidised metal would have more volume than the metal itself. The flat part of the chain could not expand to accommodate the slightly bigger pin which was slightly rusted around the edges.

[rvdm1]

This is a good point, yet the links have cracked. As per some of the other posts, perhaps it is a chemical matter and not a heating matter?

If both chains has more or less the same amount of mileage it would be interesting to compare the wear. This might give evidence to confirm hardening (whatever the source) as the culprit.

 

SCC should be considered, but I am not 100% convinced. I can't imagine soaking it for 5min would be enough for any type of environmentally assisted cracking to take place.

 

Very interesting indeed...

[SURFER]

If both chains has more or less the same amount of mileage it would be interesting to compare the wear. This might give evidence to confirm hardening (whatever the source) as the culprit.

 

SCC should be considered, but I am not 100% convinced. I can't imagine soaking it for 5min would be enough for any type of environmentally assisted cracking to take place.

 

Very interesting indeed...

It would be easy to do the same with the 2nd chain, but then there is a chance  that I could destroy  a  good workable chain. 

 

I could take the rust out of the equation by only soaking it in the same solution and not leave it outside for a week before soaking it.  Then cycle for the same distance and see.

[Skylark]

http://velonews.competitor.com/2005/11/bikes-and-tech/technical-faq/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn-not-so-simple-green-2_9216

 

There are some links describing this problem with chains soaking for extended periods.

Very interesting [emoji33]